Bengaluru: The decision to extend the train’s service to Murudeshwar from Bengaluru and Mysuru has garnered immense interest from the public, with all available seats filling up within minutes of ticket booking for the Murudeshwar-bound journey. Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha sharing the news, revealed that an additional 231 passengers are now on the waiting list, highlighting the high demand for this extended service.
Starting from tomorrow, September 17, the Bangalore-Mangalore Express will operate all the way to Murdeshwar via Mysore. The railway ministry’s announcement to extend train number 16585/586, Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal, Bangalore (SMVTB)-Mangalore Central night express to Murdeshwar in Uttara Kannada via Mysore, comes just 10 days after the order was placed. The decision has been timely, coinciding with the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a period marked by increased travel requirements between Bangalore and various parts of Karnataka. This extension has been met with such enthusiasm that ticket bookings reached full capacity within moments of being made available.
The extended service will see the Bangalore-Mangalore Express reaching Murdeshwar at 1:35 pm, while the return journey (train number 16586) will depart from Murdeshwar at 2:10 pm. The initiative to expand rail services in the region received significant support from Mysore MP Pratap Simha, who worked closely with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and his ministry to make this extension possible. Additionally, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel is expected to inaugurate the extended service at Mangalore Central at 9 am on Sunday.
As the extension coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17, MP Pratap Simha expressed his view that this railway extension serves as a fitting gift for the residents of coastal Karnataka and the Mysore region. He extended his gratitude to MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, and Uttar Kannada MP Ananth Kumar Hegde for their support. Railway department officials have confirmed that the extended service will initially operate six days a week, providing increased connectivity to the people of the region.
